At couch + cork headquarters we spend our evenings pondering wine and food. In the morning we tiptoe to our windows, open the curtains and yell: WHERE IS THE BLOODY SNOW?! We’re mildly devastated that this hasn’t been the wintriest of winters☹️. To create wintry feels, we're revisiting our favorite comfort food recipes and pairing them with gorgeous wines!

Stew Blue, Baby I Love You!

First in the lineup is this incredible beef stew by Jacques Pépin. It is our go-to cure for the non-winter winter blues. If it wasn’t going to induce a heart attack, we’d use this comfort food recipe five times a week! For the perfect wine + food pairing, couch + cork suggests a dry wine, like Shiraz. Some extra deets:

• Tannins dry your mouth. This is an ideal phenomenon when you’re eating something rich and weighty. Shiraz acts like a palate cleanser readying you for the next bite.

• Shiraz is made from Syrah grapes in non-European countries, like Australia. There they actually call Syrah Shiraz. Everywhere else the term is used, it means the wine was made in a more contemporary style. 

• That means it’s generally fruit-forward and not aged. Shiraz is big and powerful. Just like this hearty stew from our list of most loved, comfort food recipes. 

This One’s a Brieze!

Think cheesy fries but sexier, much sexier. Crispy baby potatoes with brie might seem like a great appetizer, but don’t be fooled. They are also a great breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a no-longer-hungry-but-still-want-to-eat snack! This comfort food recipe pairs well with an oaked California chardonnay. Chardonnays and creamy, buttery goodness are meant to be!

• What in the world is “oaked”? Wine is made and aged in different vessels (clay, stainless steel, etc.). Some of these impart no flavor to the wine, others are made and aged in oak barrels. These wines have both flavors and textures. In the case of Chardonnay, oak always gives it a rounder texture, sometimes described as “creamy or buttery” (See! Meant to be!). 

• Speaking of “meant to be”, did you happen to check out our Valentine’s Day, self-guided, wine and food pairing extravaganza? You may have missed the deadline, but these comfort food recipes can still create a magical day of love for you!

Nubby Cookies and Jammy Noir!

Like a few of us, you might have shunned the glorious oatmeal raisin cookie when you were younger. If you haven’t yet fallen in love with them, we urge you to try this fabulous food wine pairing: oatmeal raisin cookies and pinot noir (insert chef’s kiss!). This particular recipe from Melissa Clark has gained a permanent spot on our list of go-to recipes! 

• Pinot Noir is known for its red fruit flavors. It carries notes of mushroom and forest floor as it ages as well as notes from oak. It’s lighter-bodied, but when grown in a warmer climate it can get bigger and jammier.

• Pinot has fragrant spice notes which make it perfect for oatmeal raisin cookies. It won’t overwhelm the cookie. 

• Also! The cookie is savory enough that it won’t “screw up the wine” with too much sugar. (Yes, “screw up the wine” is expert lingo.) 

This Weekend…

…is supposed to be friggin’ freezin’! YAY! Could there be a better time to stay in and drink wine? This is the perfect opportunity to try our best-loved comfort food recipes! Make an event of it! Invite friends over and have a tasting! For more inspiration and knowledge to show off, visit The Couch! Stay warm and be safe!